This document discusses the different generations of computers and their key advantages and disadvantages. It covers 5 generations from the first generation which used vacuum tubes and were very large in size, to the fifth generation which are highly portable and use parallel processing. The generations are defined by the underlying technology used, from vacuum tubes to integrated circuits and microchips containing millions of transistors. Each new generation brought improvements in size, speed, reliability and cost while also introducing new disadvantages to overcome with further technological progress.